Andina

How Abimael Guzman became the face of terror in Peru

Sala de trofeos de la captura de Abimael Guzmán  en la Dircote.Foto: ANDINA/Oscar Farje Gomero.

Sala de trofeos de la captura de Abimael Guzmán en la Dircote.Foto: ANDINA/Oscar Farje Gomero.

15:16 | Lima, Sep. 12.

Abimael Guzman Reinoso (a.k.a. Gonzalo) was the main leader of Shining Path terrorist group, which spread death and destruction all over Peru between the 1980s and 1990s.

This is the criminal history of Peru's most wanted terrorist for years, on whose head the Government put a US$1 million bounty.

Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) began armed activities during presidential elections in May 1980 by burning ballot boxes in the Andean town of Chuschi (Ayacucho region), when the country returned to democracy after military rule.

Since then, the Philosophy professor went into hiding and led a war against the country, bringing death, causing thousands of disappearances, and destroying public property for over a decade.


According to Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Shining Path was the first group to perpetrate violence in the country and was responsible for 54% of the deaths and disappearances reported to the Commission.

The terrorist organization used acts of extreme violence and unprecedented cruelty to frighten the population.

In 1990, the National Police created the Special Intelligence Group (GEIN) to capture the terror leaders.


Guzman was captured as he met with other members of Shining Path's central committee on September 12th, 1992, at Maritza Garrido Lecca's house in Lima's Surquillo district.
 

It must be noted Shining Path member Garrido Lecca has been released from prison on Monday night after serving a 25-year sentence for terrorism.

On the other hand, Abimael Guzman is serving a life sentence in the maximum security prison at the naval base in Callao.

He currently faces a process for the car-bomb attack on Tarata Street in Lima's upscale Miraflores district.



(END) FHG/RMB/MVB

Published: 9/12/2017